Phrasing @ Improvisation

I know several BG-tunes by heart learned from notes and friends. After a while I realized that I would like to to try improvising and do variations of the core melody before I got bored. I understand phrasing is a powerful thing you can do with the fiddle but not with a guitarr.
Does anybody out there know if you should think in chords or melody when trying to make the songs more interesting? Or maybe you should pratice more scales

Desperate fiddler

Dear Desperate

There is no simple answer to your question. Improvising well is a combination of familiarity with the melody, it's harmonic structure, and having the technical ability through the practice of exercises (like scales) to put original ideas together on the fly. If that all sounds a bit pompous... you need to think in terms of melody AND chords AND practice more scales...

A good way to start is to take a tune you know in one version and listen to lots of other versions to see what can be done that's different while still retaining the essence of the melody. Then may be try playing through something you know slowly trying to make small changes while not worrying about mistakes....

Have fun though, it's the best thing about bluegrass

Andy

for some it helps to think in the chord. knowing substitutions for chords; ie C6 for C maj. and for others it may be knowing more melody. try scatting (making up a melody in the chord using words or nonsense sounds with your own melody to the chord structure) If this is over your head or I'm being too wordy. always revert to someone elses rendetion of the tune as talked about in the first reply.

I've struggled (and am still struggling) to improvise.
As previously stated, practice on and choose a tune you know well. Even use some computer backing such as perhaps a favourite recording slowed down (without changing pitch), and/or Band in a Box for example.
Work out the key and the chords and what sequence they are in.
Initially play the key's pentatonic scale (1,2,3,4 and 5), then maybe play some runs that go from one chord to another. Then maybe a slide into a note or chord. Maybe a double-stop.
Think in chord structure and sequence and know the notes in the chord.
In a jam session work out the structure (I, IV, V etc) being played during the A and B part before you begin playing, and maybe play those pentatonic notes in time and in rhythm quietly in the background as you gain confidence.

A book I found useful was : The Mandolin Picker's Guide to Bluegrass Improvisation
by Jesper Rubner-Petersen, published my MelBay 2010.

Lots of relevant stuff in there.......!!